The moment a buyer steps inside your open home, they’ll have a gut feeling on whether this home is for them or not. If the initial impression is not what they are looking for or seems messy and cluttered, you can lose their interest quickly. By taking the time to prepare your home, you can nail these first impressions to attract potential buyers. To help we’ve compiled our 5 top areas to take care of that will ensure the interior of your house is ‘open-home’ ready.

1. Entrance The entrance way of your house is the first place that a buyer will see, so it’s very important that it’s kept clean and inviting. As it’s an area where lots of people walk through every day, make sure to clean the area well – shoes can often bring dirt inside, while finger marks are quite common in this area. Making sure you wipe the various hardware, furniture doors and skirting of these areas will have your entrance way making the perfect first impression. Keeping it neat, tidy and clutter free will show off your home, and allow potential buyers to imagine it as their own.

2. KitchenThe kitchen is one of the most important places a potential buyer will look at, which means it’s vital that your kitchen is presentable and clean so that it entices buyers. Check the state of your cupboards and appliances, ensuring that any food and grease has been wiped off and that your appliances have been cleaned inside and out. Remember to clean under and behind heavy appliances such the dishwasher, stove and the refrigerator as well as under the sinks. Be careful not to clutter the area too. If a deep kitchen clean isn’t something you have time for yourself, Goodnest cleaners are always up for the job.

3. BathroomsAn essential part of cleaning your bathroom is de-cluttering the room and removing those personal items and toiletries, making sure anything that remains visible is tidy and clean. Organise areas such as the vanity cupboards and your bath/shower. This helps make your bathroom more presentable and seem more spacious. Mop and scrub the floors with some elbow grease, getting the grout lines and check if the fan is clear and working. Check if any pipings and fittings need replacing or cleaning, with a final check under the toilet and sink.

4. Bedrooms and Living AreasOn average a person spends almost 26 years of their lives asleep, so the appeal of a house’s bedrooms are very important for buyers. Make sure that the bedroom’s walls and floor have been cleaned, as well as the different storage places and closets. Wash all linens and fabrics such as blankets, curtains, rugs and sheets. For living areas, the same applies. Vacuum the room, clean the walls and dust down any furniture. Don’t forget to organise and declutter any personal belongings so the rooms look clean and presentable. By keeping these key areas clean and tidy, it allows potential buyers to imagine the space as their own.

5. Utility and StorageEnsuring that your garage, basement or attic is ‘open-home’ ready, will really let potential buyers get a sense of how much space your home can offer. Present these spaces like the others, give them a thorough vacuum and dust, as well as sweeping and washing the floors. Clean all shelves, racks and storage spaces in these areas and store any clutter and personal effects away and out of sight. Often walls in these locations can be left unattended for long periods of time accumulating dust and grime, so cleaning them will make a serious difference.Taking the time to tidy your home for an open home can be invaluable, as potential buyers often visualise their family in those spaces so it’s important to present it as best as possible. By making sure you’ve nailed the five areas above, you’ll be in the perfect place to sell your home. If time is tight or you’re not confident in your own ability, the team at Goodnest are here to help with almost any home service you may need.

It's all too easy to associate dark colours with negative connotations and a general sense of doom, but don't be too hasty, say the team at Resene. Shades like black, navy and deep grey are also reminiscient of night skies and crisp winter nights.Bedrooms are an ideal space for dark walls. Most of the time spent in the bedroom is at night – making it the perfect place to go dark and dramatic. Dark greys and inky blues are especially popular at present. Think colours like Resene Foundry, Resene Fuscous Grey and Resene Dark Side. To get a velvety rich effect, use Resene SpaceCote Flat instead of low sheen. It absorbs the light more, making the room look richer. Using darker shades brings texture and mood, especially to a featureless space. Dark walls with a different shade on the floor or trims, for example, will create lines of difference and interest in the room that wasn't there before. It can also help a cavernous room feel cosier.

Take a testBefore committing to an aesthetic overhaul, test the colours out on a large sheet of cardboard, leaving an unpainted border around the outside. You want to use a piece of card large enough to see how the colour will go with your existing furniture and home's design features.Once you've compared shades, you'll be able to settle on the exact dark hue you're happy with. Remember, there are plenty of shades to play with - deep shades can have blue, green and brown tones, which can all affect how they look on your wall. Be sure to consider the placement of windows - the shade will look a lot different in a space that receives lots of sunlight, compared to one that doesn't.

Mix it upDon't be afraid to mix things up between rooms - just be sure that whatever colour you pick within a single room is consistent. If you want to use a dark hue in a shared space, but you've got an expansive open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, pick a single dark shade for a feature wall and paint the remaining walls in a complementary neutral with cool or warm tones depending on whether your feature colour has cool or warm tones. Create dramaDark colours are excellent because you can create contrast. Why not make a splash with Resene Tuna? This measured grey looks striking when paired with crisp, white accents and a touch of bright colour - think bright yellow or red cushions or artwork.Focus closely on key features, such as the ceiling and flooring. Cool grey pairs well with off-white, while a dark yet warm brown looks stunning with thick-pile cream carpet.You can create a dramatic living space or bedroom by ensuring you offset dark shades with light touches. Follow this tip and you're on the road home!

Focus on featuresBe sure to play up your home’s best design features. Window frames, crown moulding, built-in storage and archways are examples of features that can be played up with the right paint selection.You can make these features stand out with dark paint - just ensure that the surrounding area embraces a light shade in order to achieve a wonderful contrast.

Remember the contrastsWhether you go charcoal, dark green, or deep oxen red, having a contrast on the floors, trims and ceiling helps to delineate the area, preventing it from becoming claustrophobic – instead, it helps to enlarge the space visually. As a whole-room solution, team dark neutrals with cream or crisp white trims. This works especially well with older homes where the skirtings, architraves and cornices are likely to be more ornate and will be beautifully highlighted by the contrast with smoky dark walls.Think beyond your walls, to floors, ceilings and furniture. These can easily be painted a dark colour too. If you’re living in a villa with a high stud, a dark ceiling can help make the ceiling feel lower and the room feel cosier.If you’re changing from a light colour scheme to a dark one, make sure you review your lighting at the same time. You may find you need a little extra lighting or a stronger light bulb to balance the darker walls.

The decision to sell is made, but how do you ensure potential buyers know your house could be their dream home? Here are five top marketing tools to help you get the best possible result for your sale.Online presenceMore than 80 per cent of Kiwis look online to find properties for sale[*], so it’s essential your property has a presence on the worldwide web. Consider how to get the most exposure, and include plenty of details so potential buyers can put serious thought in. Your real estate agent can run through the sites that will give the best bang for your buck and advise on how best to describe your property.Great imagesMake sure your home looks pretty as a picture to attract the maximum number of buyers to come and view it in person. The first encounter many will have with your property is by viewing photographs online, in real estate magazines or agency windows, or in the property section of the local paper, so it is crucial they make a good first impression. It is worth paying for a professional photographer who can ensure images are taken from the right angle, get the lighting right and show your home at its very best, as those pictures (and video, if you want to go a step further) may just prompt a future buyer to fall in love.Street signageA ‘For Sale’ sign outside your home may feel a little old-fashioned in our virtual world, but it’s important to catch the attention of those who may not actively be looking for a new property, or those who always have an eye on your street or neighbourhood for the dream home. People hunting for property use up to four extra resources on top of online research, including sale signage, magazines and brochures, and agency window displays, so the more places you shout ‘For Sale’, the better.Open homesThe actual look and feel of a property is something that can’t be construed through photos alone, so holding open homes and private viewings is key to marketing your property. Giving prospective buyers the chance to walk through your home, imagine themselves in it, and get a feel for the surrounding neighbourhood will ensure you have some serious buyers in the mix when it comes time to sell.A great agentWord of mouth and personal recommendations count for a lot when it comes to making a major purchase such as a new home. A committed and enthusiastic real estate agent will be able to tell people about your property, put the word out to other agents who might have interested buyers, and follow up with potential buyers about their intentions. An approach like this will make sure you have reached as many people as possible, and make you feel secure that, in turn, you get the best price possible.

When it comes to selling your house, we know getting the very best price with the least stress is your top priority. Auctions are often the best way to achieve this, as well as offering several other benefits for sellers too. Read on to find out why going under the hammer will likely work for you.

Short and sweet

Auctions get maximum exposure for your property in a short period of time with a structured, intensive marketing campaign over a few key weeks. This approach not only creates a sense of urgency for buyers, but has the added advantage of meaning you won’t have to keep your house clean for months of open homes or agent visits, and you have a defined timeline to plan around.

The market decides the price

Rather than guessing at the value of your home, and potentially placing a ceiling on what people will pay for it, auctions allow buyers to decide for themselves what a property is worth. This means you get a true market value for your home if it sells at auction.

Competition is maximised

A property is worth what any one party is prepared to pay for it, so creating fair competition for your home can push buyers to truly consider their top price come auction day, and may result in you getting more than expected when the hammer finally comes down.

Signed, sealed, delivered

An auction sale is an unconditional sale, which means that once your home passes the reserve (set by you) and the auctioneer declares it sold, you can sign the paperwork and know the deal is done. This eliminates drawn-out contract negotiations, and is often the best option for anyone needing quick settlement terms for another purchase.

Passed in, but not passed on

If your home is ‘passed in’, meaning it doesn’t sell at auction, the intense interest and buyer activity generated in the lead-up to the auction means you usually have an increased chance of selling the home at a negotiated price to interested parties. Your real estate agent will already know who is genuinely interested in the property and can deal direct with them to see if an agreement can be reached.

Many of us have an idea for a potential add-on or major renovation for our home, but we don’t always get around to doing it. So, when it comes time to sell, is it worth getting the plans and/or consent ready to show potential buyers?Prepping the plansIf you never got around to that extra bedroom, en-suite, double garage or sleep-out, and now it’s time to sell, there could still be benefits to doing some paperwork to help make your property more attractive to buyers.However, before you do anything, it’s important to think carefully about what these might add to your listing and whether it’s worth the effort. If the project needs building or resource consent, then it will take time and money (time frames and costs vary between councils), and the same goes for any architect plans you might get drawn up.When weighing up the options, it is essential to consider whether the renovation will appeal to a likely buyer. If it’s an extra bedroom or bathroom, and your home will be popular with young families, the answer might be a resounding yes, and the paperwork already being done could be a real bonus for buyers. However, if the plans are for your dream triple garage that will take up most of the yard, it may not appeal to those same buyers looking for outdoor space.Plans and consent could equally add value if they address a negative feature of the house – for example, the lack of an outdoor deck – by showing buyers that the addition can be done and allowing them to cross that particular ‘black mark’ off their list.Having these things in place will only appeal to some buyers though, and the time, cost and energy of securing consents and plans may not add anything for the majority of people who don’t wish to do the work, want to come up with their own ideas, or are happy with the property as is.Doing the workIf the renovation or add-on is really going to add value by making the property more attractive, remedying a very negative feature, or adding a potential income stream, then it could be a better idea to simply forge ahead with the work before you put the house on the market, and potentially reap the rewards in your sale price.However, it’s important to discuss such plans beforehand with a reputable real estate agent who can advise on whether it will pay off in the long run, and crucial that you keep the build costs within set limits to ensure you make the best possible profit.

Bathrooms are one of the rooms in your home that can add value for buyers. The team at Resene have some great ideas for bringing out the best in your bathroom. ​

While it’s often one of the smallest rooms in your home, that doesn’t mean bathrooms need to be bland and boring. Use the right colours together, add the right materials and that poky little bathroom space can easily become an oasis of calm.Look to natureNature has always had a strong influence on choices and never more so than now. Natural, botanical schemes are trending throughout the home right now, including bathrooms.“Think crisp whites, creams, forest greens and natural, organic materials,” says Resene colour consultant Rebecca Long. “Earthy greens such as Resene Paddock and Resene Rivergum would look very sophisticated in an earthy bathroom. For a daring look, try a navy such as Resene Coast.”Open up the space with glassBack-painted glass splashbacks have become an extremely popular kitchen feature in recent years, and now they’re starting to make an appearance in bathrooms as well, particularly in soft blues and greens. Try restful pastels such as Resene Half Escape or Resene Breathless teamed with crisp white trims for an instantly soothing palette. This pairs well with the chalky pale mineral blue and green tiles that are a popular pick for their soothing properties.Embrace technologyTraditionally technology isn’t something that has been associated with bathrooms, but built-in televisions and speakers are the perfect accompaniment for long luxurious soaks in the bath. New, mirrored flat TV technology can be installed anywhere – on the wall, on the ceiling, behind artwork, or embedded in a bathroom mirror. You need a waterproof version, of course, where the electronic compartments are completely sealed off from any moisture.

Keep it simpleThe move towards minimalism and simplicity is becoming more popular and brings with it sophisticated concrete finishes. Walk-in showers are popular.Banish the clutter by allowing for plenty of storage. Clean vanity tops and surfaces will make your bathroom seem more spacious.Add colour“Paint is such an affordable way to update your space,” says Rebecca Lord, Resene Colour Expert. You only need a few litres to completely transform the space.Watery blues and greens are always popular choices for a bathroom as they feel clean and fresh and help to make a small space feel larger. Recent trends have seen more soft greys and blue greys, such as Resene Silver Chalice and Resene Duck Egg Blue, coming into the bathroom space also teamed with off white.If you’re stuck with existing tiles that limit your options for decorating but you can’t afford to replace them, consider painting over them. Many tiles have a glossy surface so use Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer first to give the topcoats something to grip on to.“While a well-ventilated bathroom has a lower risk of damage, it's still important to use the correct paint,” says Rebecca. “I recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom, which is a waterborne enamel for a hard wearing and washable finish. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom also has a mould inhibitor, which reduces the risk of mould growth.www.resene.co.nz

Whether you are retiring, looking to free up some capital, or simply wanting to de-clutter, downsizing can offer some real advantages – but it also comes with some downsides. We weigh up the pros and cons of making this lifestyle change.PRO: A smaller home means smaller billsIf you are looking to save on daily living costs, downsizing into an apartment or smaller home usually means you will save on basics such as heating costs, electricity, and house insurance.CON: A downsized home may mean downsized furnitureMoving into a smaller space could cost you some extra money if your furnishings are too big for your new home, and you have to spend on new items such as lounge suites, dining tables and bedroom furniture.PRO: De-cluttering is the only optionIf you (or others in your household) struggle to get rid of clutter, downsizing provides the perfect reason to get tough and minimise. Especially if you are moving into an apartment or unit, storage space will be at a premium, so only the most important possessions should go with you.CON: Outdoor space and hobbies may be affectedFor those who love gardening or lounging around the backyard during the summer months, downsizing can be challenging. However, many people cultivate impressive gardens on apartment balconies, and if this is something that is important to you, look for a home that fits the bill in terms of sunlight and space.PRO: Less household maintenanceAlternatively, if you can’t wait to retire the lawnmower and hedge clippers, downsizing is a great option. Indoor chores such as vacuuming, dusting and cleaning will also be quicker and easier in a smaller home, freeing up your time for other activities.CON: Lifestyle changes may be hard to adjust toMoving from a self-contained family home to a unit or apartment, or even just a smaller home in a different neighbourhood, can present some major changes. You may not be able to have family or friends to stay over, hosting large events may be difficult, and new neighbours in closer proximity could prove challenging.PRO: Release your capitalMany of us have the majority of our savings tied up in our primary property. Downsizing can offer the opportunity to free up money that can then be used to diversify investments, take a dream holiday, or simply provide more cash flow for daily living.